Preferred screwhead type?

[derekleffew]

If you had a choice, barring budget and other realities, what head would you use?

[avkid]

In ideal world, I would still probably use Phillips as that's what i'm used to.

It's much easier to back out a Phillips screw that you can't see than a slotted one.

[gafftapegreenia]

Robertson all the way. Of course I assume we are talking scenic and construction jobs here.

The biggest downside with Robertson is that if you use the wrong size driver and strip it out, it's harder than a stripped phillips to remove. With the right driver, it is near impossible to strip, plus, the square head holds a screw, so you can pop on a screw and reach in a tight space and not have it fall off.

Both Robertson and Torx and great improvements on slotted and Phillips. However, where Phillips and slotted gain the advantage is that, for the rest of the world, you can fudge your way by with one or two slotted and phillips head drivers your whole life and turn almost anything you come across. With Robertson, Torx, Hex and all the rest, you need to proper sized driver if you want a shot at turning that screw. Maybe fine for tool junkies like me but not everyone seems to want a box full of drivers when one or two in the junk drawer has been fine.

[soundlight]

I wish more people would use square/robertson. I put square drive screws in to equipment racks as often as possible, and find that they strip out the least.

[Les]

Originally Posted by soundlight

I wish more people would use square/robertson. I put square drive screws in to equipment racks as often as possible, and find that they strip out the least.

They're also a little more tamper resistant, being that not many people walk around with a square bit on them. I also agree with gafftapegreenia that it's a lot easier to get them to stay on the bit when you can't hold the screw in place with your fingers.

[thatactorguy]

Like avkid, I'm also used to Phillips and generally stick with them, but I love the Robertsons. In a pinch, a Phillips bit can be used to pull them out (slowly! lol), and both the Phillips and Robertsons are still easier to remove if a little paint gets in them; not so with the torx, in my experience...

[porkchop]

I'm a bit fan of Torx, a lot of things I have are put together with them so I have all the bit sizes handy. Robertson is good too but we always call it Canadian drive and it's more fun to razz the Canadians if we don't use it.

[avkid]

Originally Posted by gafftapegreenia

With the right driver, it is near impossible to strip, plus, the square head holds a screw, so you can pop on a screw and reach in a tight space and not have it fall off.

I just use a magnetic drive guide.

[DaveySimps]

I prefer Phillips, just from a standard maintenance standpoint. There is always a Phillips driver available everywhere, you do not have to worry about forgetting the right driver, loosing your only driver in the work truck on a gig, etc. It is all in what you are use to.

~Dave

[Footer]

Take a look at these... they are amazing...

Phillips II High Performance Screws - Home